The Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma

堅著於五欲，痴愛故生惱。

Are firmly attached to the five desires, and from foolish love give rise to vexation.

以諸欲因緣，墜墮三惡道，

Because of their desires and conditions they fall into the three evil paths,

輪迴六趣中，備受諸苦毒，

Wheeling in the six realms, enduring all kinds of bitter poison,

受胎之微形，世世常增長。

Receiving a small body in the womb, ever growing life after life.

薄德少福人，眾苦所逼迫，

People of thin virtue and little merit are pressed by many sufferings,

入邪見稠林，若有若無等。

And enter the dense forest of wrong views, of being and non-being and the like.

依止此諸見，具足六十二，

Relying on these views, the full number of sixty-two,

深著虛妄法，堅受不可捨，

They are deeply attached to false dharmas, grasping them firmly and unable to let go,

我慢自矜高，諂曲心不實，

Proud and self-exalted, flattering and crooked, their minds not sincere,

於千萬億劫，不聞佛名字，

For tens of millions of billions of kalpas they do not hear the Buddha's name,

亦不聞正法，如是人難度。

Nor hear the true Dharma; such people are hard to deliver.

是故舍利弗！我為設方便，

Therefore, Shariputra, I set up skillful means for them,

說諸盡苦道，示之以涅槃。

Teaching the path that ends suffering, and showing them nirvana.

我雖說涅槃，是亦非真滅，

Though I speak of nirvana, this is not true extinction,

諸法從本來，常自寂滅相。

For all dharmas from the beginning are always of the nature of quiescence.

佛子行道已，來世得作佛，

When Buddha-children have practiced the Way, in a future life they will become Buddhas;

我有方便力，開示三乘法。

I have the power of skillful means, and reveal the teaching of the Three Vehicles.

一切諸世尊，皆說一乘道，

All the World-Honored Ones teach the Way of the One Vehicle;

今此諸大眾，皆應除疑惑，

Now this great assembly should all put away doubt and confusion,

諸佛語無異，唯一無二乘。

For the words of the Buddhas are the same: there is only one, not two vehicles.

過去無數劫，無量滅度佛，

In countless past kalpas, countless Buddhas who entered extinction,

百千萬億種，其數不可量。

Hundreds of thousands of billions of kinds, their number cannot be measured.

如是諸世尊，種種緣譬喻，

These World-Honored Ones, with all kinds of causes, conditions, and parables,

無數方便力，演說諸法相。

And countless powers of skillful means, expounded the characteristics of all dharmas.

是諸世尊等，皆說一乘法，

These World-Honored Ones all taught the One Vehicle Dharma,

化無量眾生，令入於佛道。

Transforming countless beings and causing them to enter the Buddha Way.

又諸大聖主，知一切世間，

Moreover, the great holy lords, knowing all the world,

天人群生類，深心之所欲，

The deep desires in the hearts of gods, humans, and all kinds of beings,

更以異方便，助顯第一義。

Used other skillful means to help reveal the ultimate truth.

若有眾生類，值諸過去佛，

If there are beings who met the Buddhas of the past,

若聞法佈施，或持戒忍辱、

Who heard the Dharma, gave alms, or kept precepts and practiced patience,

精進禪智等，種種修福慧。

Diligence, meditation, wisdom and so on, cultivating merit and wisdom in many ways,

如是諸人等，皆已成佛道。

Such people have all attained the Buddha Way.

諸佛滅度已，若人善軟心，

After the Buddhas have entered extinction, if someone has a good and gentle mind,

如是諸眾生，皆已成佛道。

Such beings have all attained the Buddha Way.

諸佛滅度已，供養舍利者，

After the Buddhas have entered extinction, those who make offerings to the relics,

起萬億種塔，金銀及頗梨、

Raise tens of billions of stupas, of gold, silver, and crystal,

車𤦲與馬腦、玫瑰琉璃珠，

Seashell, agate, rose-gem, and lapis lazuli pearls,

清淨廣嚴飾，莊校於諸塔。

Pure and broadly adorned, decorating the stupas.

或有起石廟，栴檀及瀋水，

Or some raise stone shrines of sandalwood and aloeswood,

木櫁並餘材，塼瓦泥土等。

Of wood and other materials, with bricks, tiles, clay, and earth.

若於曠野中，積土成佛廟，

If in an open wilderness they heap up earth to make a Buddha shrine,

乃至童子戲，聚沙為佛塔，

Or even children at play gather sand to make Buddha stupas,

如是諸人等，皆已成佛道。

Such people have all attained the Buddha Way.

若人為佛故，建立諸形像，

If people, for the sake of the Buddha, set up all kinds of images,

刻雕成眾相，皆已成佛道。

Carved and sculpted into many forms, they have all attained the Buddha Way.

或以七寶成，鍮石赤白銅、

Or made of the seven jewels, of brass, red and white copper,

白鑞及鉛錫，鐵木及與泥，

White tin, lead and tin, iron, wood, and clay,

或以膠漆布，嚴飾作佛像，

Or of glue, lacquer, and cloth, adorned to make Buddha images,

如是諸人等，皆已成佛道。

Such people have all attained the Buddha Way.

彩畫作佛像，百福莊嚴相，

Painting in colors to make Buddha images, with the hundred merits as adornments,

自作若使人，皆已成佛道。

Whether made by themselves or by others, they have all attained the Buddha Way.

乃至童子戲，若草木及筆，

Even children at play, with a blade of grass, a twig, or a brush,

或以指爪甲，而畫作佛像，

Or with a fingernail, painting a Buddha image,

如是諸人等，漸漸積功德，

Such people gradually accumulate merit,

具足大悲心，皆已成佛道。

And, fully endowed with great compassion, have all attained the Buddha Way.

但化諸菩薩，度脫無量眾。

They only transform Bodhisattvas and deliver countless beings.

若人於塔廟、寶像及畫像，

If people before stupas, shrines, precious images, and painted images,

以華香幡蓋，敬心而供養。

Make offerings of flowers, incense, banners, and canopies with a reverent heart,

若使人作樂，擊鼓吹角貝，

Or have others make music, beating drums, blowing horns and conch shells,